Bink Video

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Bink Video
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Bink logo
Filename extensionTemplate:Monodiv
Internet media typeTemplate:Monodiv
Developed byEpic Games Tools
Initial releaseMarch 22, 1999; 27 years ago (1999-03-22)
Latest release
2025.05
October 3, 2025; 10 months ago (2025-10-03)[1]
Type of formatVideo file
Open format?No
WebsiteLua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:If preview' not found.

Bink Video is a proprietary file format (extensions .bik and .bk2) for video developed by Epic Games Tools (formerly RAD Game Tools), a part of Epic Games.

Overview

The format includes its own proprietary video and audio compression algorithms (video and audio codecs) supporting resolutions from 320×240 up to high definition video.

It is bundled as part of the Epic Video Tools along with RAD Game Tools' previous video codec, Smacker video. It is a hybrid block-transform and wavelet codec using 16 different encoding techniques. The codec places emphasis on lower decoding requirements over other video codecs with specific optimizations for the different computer game consoles it supports.

It has been primarily used for full-motion video sequences in video games, and has been used in games for Windows, Mac OS and all sixth-generation game consoles (Dreamcast, GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox) and all major seventh-generation gaming platforms (Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii and Xbox 360).[2]

The original format was reverse-engineered by the FFmpeg project and Bink decoding is supported by the open-source libavcodec library.[3] The bk2 format is not supported yet.[4]

History

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Bink was inducted into the Front Line Awards Hall of Fame by the Game Developer magazine in 2009. The winners for the award were published in the January 2010 issue of the magazine.[5]

Bink 2, a new version of the format, was released in 2013.[6] This new format is available for Windows (standard, Windows 8 Store and Windows 8 Phone), Mac OS, Linux, major touchscreen smartphone platforms (Android and iOS), all three major seventh-generation consoles (PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360), all major eighth-generation platforms except the Nintendo 3DS (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U and Xbox One) and the ninth-generation PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.[7] Bink 2 is faster than Bink 1, and supports higher resolutions as well.[8]

Epic Games acquired the technology and business of RAD Game Tools including Bink on January 7, 2021, renaming it to Epic Games Tools. It was announced they planned to integrate RAD's technology directly into Unreal Engine and that licenses will continue to be available to those who do not use the Unreal Engine in their work.[9][10][11][12][13]

Technical

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Bink uses a wavelet-based compression algorithm optimized for game video sequences. It supports resolutions up to 4K and can encode at bitrates from 500 kbit/s to 200 Mbit/s. The codec is designed for efficient decompression, leveraging multithreading and SIMD instructions on modern CPUs. Bink also offers optional alpha channel support for composing video with 3D graphics.[14]

See also

References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Bink Development History". Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Bink Customer Page". www.radgametools.com. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."FFmpeg cvs-log mailing list". Archived from the original on 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."#4976 (BK2 format support) – FFmpeg". FFmpeg issue tracker. Retrieved 2026-01-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Game Developer Reveals 2009 Front Line Awards Winners, Bink To Hall Of Fame". January 8, 2010.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Freeman, Will (2013-04-11). "Interview: Bink 2". Develop. NewBay Media.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Bink Video!". www.radgametools.com.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Bink Video!". RAD Game Tools. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Epic Games announces new acquisition of RAD Game Tools". Polygon. January 7, 2021.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Epic acquires Rad Game Tools, veteran of many gaming generations". January 7, 2021.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Epic Acquires RAD Game Tools". January 7, 2021.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Epic acquires RAD Game Tools". January 7, 2021.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Epic Games has acquired RAD Game Tools". Jan 8, 2021.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Bink Video for Unreal Engine". May 13, 2024.

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